With more money in the bank, the Jackson County School System will restore funding to some areas that it previously slashed during budget cuts.

The Jackson County Board of Education agreed Monday to a restoration plan that includes up to a potential $624,350 in spending for hiring additional staff, and paying more for athletic and fine arts transportation to events.

“We came up with a list that we think benefits a lot of different people and groups in the school system,” said superintendent Shannon Adams on Thursday. “We tried to restore (funding) in as many places as we could; obviously, we couldn’t do them all. But we think the ones that we did do make sense.”

At the JCSS work session on 9/8 the school board discussed this restoration with Asst. Supt. Rise Hawley. After Mrs. Hawley described the positions and why our school system needed these positions restored, board member Michael Cronic asked her which which one (1) of these positions was the top priority to restore. Mrs. Hawley would not identify which and generally stated that they all were important. The board did not force here too identify which was #1.

Then Dr. Adams said he wanted Mrs. Hawley to come back to the board with a two (2) tier approach for the restoration at Monday nights school board meeting. Mrs. Hawley said they are reviewing that now and will do so.

Well, on Monday night at the school board meeting, there was no presentation or discussion of a "two tier approach" like Dr. Adams said he wanted. There was only a vote and all positions were approved. Why did they not present the two tier approach? Logic says Dr. Adams really wasn't serious and they were not made to. Then the entire school board votes to approve the restored positions. Dr. Adams nor a single board member spoke up and requested more info about a two tier approach. Why? On can assume they had already made up their minds. They did not walk their talk.

We find a little money and they decide to spend it instead of keeping it in the reserve. I'm sure we need most, or all of the positions, but in my opinion, it was never fully and openly discussed and weighed before voted on. They said they wanted to, but never did. The school board rubber stamped it with no further discussion. I have a problem with that type of deception. Where is the accountablility?

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